• natural areas,  reptiles,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Excitement to End My Day

    May 24, 2023

    Yesterday evening I spend some time at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area lounging in my Big Agnes Camp chair and journaling in the quiet. While writing I could hear something rustling in the bushes about 20 feet away. I paid little attention, assuming it to be a rabbit. However, later when I got up to stretch and walk around I discovered it to be this five foot long bull snake curled up in a rabbit brush. I’ve never seen a snake in a bush before, but always on the ground. So I now know that the scales on a bull snake’s body help it to climb plants and even trees without arms or legs. My excitement to end my day. You can click on the image for a larger view. Today is smoky and cloudy with possible rain later.

    Read More
  • natural areas,  reptiles,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    …without words.

    July 14, 2022

    I posted yesterday about having conversations with nature and then had a short but very important conversation with this rattlesnake on the trail at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area last evening. They initiated the conversation when they started to shake that rattle while I was about four feet away. Thus began our conversation. As soon as I heard them rattle I immediately stopped in my tracks. Without any words I knew exactly what they were saying to me, “That’s close enough! I’m coiled and ready.” I answered them by saying loudly something like, “Holy Crap!!”, then stepped back. I frantically looked for them. Once discovered, I moved off the trail and let them have it. After all, they were there first. I then asked if I could take a photo or two. I understood that rattle perfectly, without words.

    Read More
  • reptiles

    One of my neighbors

    June 19, 2012
    Good Morning

    A morning walk around my pond with latte in hand is a good way to meet the neighbors. If I haven’t mentioned it before, my condo is about six blocks from Colorado State University so I do have a wide assortment of students and with almost yearly changes. Other neighbors include way too many Canadian Geese, every so often a fox, raccoons, herons fishing in the pond and every once in a while a deer. I tried to start up a conversation with this guy (or gal) but quickly found they were on the quiet side, a quality I like in a neighbor.

    Read More
  • Plants,  reptiles

    Tall Grass

    June 3, 2010
    Tall Grass

    I like to venture around my hotels during overnights for the exercise, just to get out and to see what I can find. The hotel in Burlington, VT has a marshy area with path circling a pond. On this particular cloudy morning walk birds were singing happy songs to the world, a snake raised its head to keep alert to every move I made. I loved the tall grass that surrounded me on the path. The grass was well above my head and offered another one natures true works of art.

    Snake
    Read More
  • Metro Parks,  reptiles

    On a Morning Stroll

    June 28, 2009
    On a Morning Stroll
    On a Morning Stroll

     Out for a morning stroll. He’s a bit shy, in case you hadn’t noticed, as he made sure to stay close to the plants. After a hard rain the night before there is a wonder in the air the next morning. Don’t know about you but the freshness that is around us when walking among nature after a rain sure can perk up my senses. A smile comes to my face, well maybe a smirk. Wonder if it’s the same for the turtle. Do you think he’s smiling or smirking?

    I could hear the frogs croaking along Frog Pond. I could smell the moisture and rain. I could feel the dampness in the air and in my clothes. For eye candy I had rain droplets hanging from leaves and flower petals. There were sun beams breaking through the trees. All these make for a good morning stroll.

    Read More